PKB Legislator Says Zakat To Finance Nutritious Eating Programs Will Be Polemic

JAKARTA - The proposal to use zakat to pay for free nutritious food (MBG) can cause polemics.

Member of Commission VIII DPR from the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction Maman Imanul Haq assessed that the government should focus on perfecting the program because there are still many shortcomings in its implementation.

"All stakeholders should focus on perfecting the implementation of the program, not even triggering a new polemic, which is not necessary, such as using zakat for MBG because it is neither the foundation of syar'i nor the sociology," Maman said as quoted from his written statement, Saturday, January 18.

Maman highlighted a number of shortcomings in the MBG program. Among them are related to the variety of menus to the nutritional balance of each dish.

Zakat is emphasized that it cannot be distributed carelessly to certain programs because there are strict rules and must comply with Islamic law. Maman said there are eight asnaf or groups that can receive benefits such as poor, poor, amir, converts, people who are in debt, slaves who want to liberate themselves, ibnu sabil, and fisabililah.

"This provision is also strengthened by Law Number 23/2011 concerning Zakat Management. So it cannot be used haphazardly," he said.

Instead of being focused on a nutritious eating program, continued Maman, zakat funds should still be focused on more specific programs. The use of zakat for programs that are common and involve all people who do not belong to the category of zakat recipients violates the principle of zakat management," he explained.

Meanwhile, MBG is right if it uses the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) which has been systematically designed and the budget reaches IDR 71 trillion. Because, Maman said, this program is common and for the entire community.

"So there is no need to use zakat funds," he concluded.